Game board

ABSTRACT

A collapsible game board having two sections, each section having an open end adapted to be abutted against the corresponding open end of the other section to define a playing area having an upper surface and a lower surface. One of the sections when inverted can be superimposed on the other section with the upper surface of one section disposed adjacent to the lower surface of the other section, each section being formed in a complementary fashion to prevent relative sidewise, perpendicular and endwise movement of the two superimposed sections.

United States Patent [72) Inventor Frank Duncan Daniel 5129 Harper Ave., Chicago, 111. 60638 {21] Appl. No. 826,455 [22] Filed May 21, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [54] GAME BOARD 11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 108/34, 108/93 [51 Int. Cl. A47b 3/00 [50] Field of Search 108/11-18, 33-35,93-94; 190/11, 12; 220/4 E, 8; 229/9 [56] Reference Cited UNl'l'ED STATES PATENTS 1,063,642 6/1913 Birdsall 108/93 X 1,154,692 9/1915 Dehullu... 108/34 1.339.669 5/1920 Rapp 108/93 X 1,336,433 4/1920 Hudson 108/93 X 2.534,l00 12/1950 Baumgartner.... 220/8 X 2,652,300 9/1953 Graber et a1 108/93 2,696,246 12/1954 Putnam 108/93 2,700,485 l/l955 Goldberg et a1. 220/8 Primary Examiner Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch Attorney-Dressler, Goldsmith, Clement & Gordon ABSTRACT: A collapsible game board having two sections, each section having an open end adapted to be abutted against the corresponding open end of the other section to define a playing area having an upper surface and a lower surface. One of the sections when inverted can be superimposed on the other section with the upper surface of one section disposed adjacent to the lower surface of the other section, each section being formed in a complementary fashion to prevent relative sidewise, perpendicular and endwise movement of the two superimposed sections.

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,601,066

2 Sheets-Shoot 1 v i @Duucan/ fiauufa/ waw amulllj Klimt $1M GAME BOARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION upon completion of the game. Additionally, the usual containers for such games have a relatively short lifespan, when subjected to the handling and treatment normally expected from children and even to repeated handling by adults.

It can be appreciated that in utilizing such games, a separate playing surface such as a table is required unless the game is to be played on the floor. While children usually have no objections to playing on the floor, the absence of a suitable playing surface may inhibit the use of those games particularly designed for adult participation.

SUMMARY In accordance with the present invention there is provided a structurally sound, relatively permanent, self-contained game board which is portable, does not require an external support surface such as a table and which, when closed, is capable of storing the various components used to play the game as well as legs which can be used to support the game board in use.

A game board in accordance with the present invention includes two sections each having a bottom wall and an open end adapted to be abutted with the corresponding open end of the other section to define a playing area. The playing area includes a continuous upper surface and a continuous lower surface joined at about the center of the bottom wall by an interior side wall. I I

Typically the two sections when abutted together may be conveniently locked in this position by suitable means, and may be supported by legs attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall.

The game board may conveniently be closed for storage and transportation by inverting one of the sections and superimposing the two sections one on the other so that the upper surfaces of the two sections are disposed side by side with the upper surface of one section disposed side by side with the upper surface of one section disposed adjacent to the lower surface of the mating section. The two sections cooperate when so closed to prevent relative sidewise and perpendicular movement, while suitable fastener means restrains the two sections against relative endwise movement.

The upper surface of each section may conveniently define a hollow chamber'which acts as a storage compartment for the playing pieces and parts of the game and for the legs which may be detached from the game board.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and of one embodiment thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings in which each and every detail shown is fully and completely disclosed as a part of this specification, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the game board of the present invention showing the two sections thereof abutted to define a playing area;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the game board of FIG. 1 in closed condition, with the supporting legs removed and the two sections of the board superimposed on each other and turned into a vertical position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the game board showing the two sections partially closed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial side view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; I

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged plan view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 5 of an alternative embodiment.

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 of the drawing shows a game board 10 in accordance with the present invention having two sections 12 which are shown abutted together to define a playing area 14.

Each of the two substantially identical section 12 have a bottom wall 15, a first side wall 16 and an end wall 17. The end 18 of each section 12 opposite the end wall 17 is open and is adapted to be abutted against the corresponding open end 18 of the other section 12 to define the playing area 14 having a raised surface 20 and a lower or recessed surface 24.

The raised surface 20 includes an upper wall 26 supported on the bottom wall 15 in a-plane generally parallel to the bottom wall 15 by a second side wall 28 and a third interior sidewall 30 (best seen in FIG. 6) to define a hollow compartment 32 which conveniently may be used for storage. Typically, a drawer 34 containing the various playing pieces and materials used in the playing of the game can be inserted into one of the compartments 32, while legs 36 used to support the game board 10 can be inserted into the other of the compartments 32.

Each section also includes a generally peripheral groove 38 formed along the side of the bottom wall 15 adjacent to the second side wall 28. A cleat 40 is formed on .the exposed surface of the interior sidewall 30.

The game board 10 is set up for use by abutting the open ends 18 of the two sections 12 against each other as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7. The two sections 12 are locked in place, for example by latches 42 formed at the edge of sidewalls 16 and 28 of each section.

The game board 10, as seen in FIG. 1, may be supported on the legs 36 which may be suitably attached to the game board, for example, by screwing the legs 36 into fittings 44 affixed to the outer surface of the bottom wall 15 of each section 12.

When it is desired to close the game board 10, the two sections 12 may be separated, the legs 36 detached and inserted into one of the compartments 32, and the drawer 34, with various playing pieces, may be inserted into the other of the compartments 34. One of the sections 12 is inverted and superimposed on the other section 12, as seen most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 5. v

The two sections 12 are slidably brought together with the first sidewall 16 of one section inserted into the groove 38 of the mating section 12 to prevent relative sidewise movement of the superimposed sections. As the two sections 12 are closed, the cleats 40 slide into overlapping engagement to prevent perpendicular separation of the two superimposed sections 12. The latches 42 are used to lock the two sections together, as seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 8, the two sections can be locked together by use of reentrant flanges 46 instead of the cleats 40. The reetrant flanges 46, which are formed on the third sidewalls 30, retain the two sections 12 together preventing both sidewise and perpendicular separation thereof. In this manner, the width of the upper wall 26 can be increased by locating the second sidewall 28 closer to the edge of the bottom wall 15.

Pull straps 48 located on the outside of the end walls 17 of each section 12 are used to separate the superimposed sections 12 when the game board 10 is to be set up as shown in FlG. 1, A handle 50 located'on one of the sidewalls 16 may be used to transport the game board when closed.

Thus, there has been disclosed a game board which can be set up at any desired location by means of its self-supporting capabilities, which can be readily transported since it is capable of storing all the necessary components including the support legs, and which can be closed into a compact secure configuration for ready transport or storage.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. it is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is: l. A collapsible game board comprising two sections, each section having a bottom wall, an upper surface, a lower surface and an open end adapted to be abutted against the corresponding open end of the other section to define a playing area,

said playing area having an upper surface along one side thereof and a lower surface along the other side thereof, said upper and lower surfaces traversing each of said sections,

one of said sections being adapted when inverted to be superimposed on said other section, with the upper surfaces of said superimposed sections disposed side by side and with the upper surface of one section positioned adjacent to the lower surface of the mating section,

and means for selectively preventing separation of the two sections from their superimposed position.

2. A game board as claimed in claim 1 wherein said said means for preventing separation of the two superimposed sections includes means for preventing sidewise and perpendicular movement of the sections relative to each other,

3. A game board as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for preventing separation of the two superimposed sections includes means for restraining said sections against endwise relative movement.

4. A game board as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said sections includes an end wall rising from the peripheral portion of said bottom wall opposite said open end, and 7 said upper surface of said playing area of each section defines a hollow chamber having an open end, said open end of the chamber of each section being closed by the end wall of the other section when the two sections are in their superimposed position.

5. A game board as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said playing area terminates about midway between the side edges of said bottom wall in an interior sidewall.

6. A game board as claimed in claim 5 including a cleat formed on said interior sidewall of each section,

said cleats being in overlapping engagement when said sections are superimposed, to prevent relative perpendicular separation of the two sections.

7. A game board as claimed in claim 5 including a reentrant flange formed on the interior sidewall of each section,

said reentrant flanges engaging each other when said sections are superimposed, to prevent relative lateral and perpendicular movement of the two sections.

8. A game board as claimed in claim 1 wherein each section includes a generally peripheral groove formed along one side of said bottom wall and a generally peripheral sidewall rising from the other side of said bottom wall, I

the free edge of said sidewall of each section adapted to engage the groove in the bottom wall of the mating section when said sections are superimposed to prevent sidewise relative movement of the two sections.

9. A game board as claimed in claim 1 including fastener means on each section to maintain the open ends of said sectrons m abutting relationship to each other and to restrain said sections against endwise relative movement when said sections are superimposed.

10. A game board as claimed in claim 1 including means on the outer surface of said bottom walls detachably receiving legs adapted to support said game board when the open ends of said sections are abutted against each other.

1 l. A collapsible game board comprising two sections,

each section having a bottom wall,

a first sidewall rising from the peripheral portion of said bottom wall,

a peripheral groove formed along the side of said bottom wall opposite said first sidewall,

a second sidewall rising from said bottom wall adjacent to and inwardly of said groove,

21 third sidewall rising from said bottom wall and disposed about midway between the sides of said bottom wall,

an upper wall supported on said second and third sidewalls in a plane generally parallel to said bottom wall,

an end wall rising from a peripheral portion of said bottom wall and extending between said first and second sidewalls,

a hollow chamber defined by said upper wall, said second and third sidewalls, a portion of said bottom wall and a portion of said end wall, and

a cleat formed on the surface of said third sidewall;

the end of one of said sections opposite said end wall adapted to be abutted against the corresponding end of the other section to define a playing area having a continuous upper surface formed by the upper walls of each section and a continuous lower surface formed by the exposed portion of said bottom walls of each section;

one of said sections when inverted being adapted to be superimposed on said other section with the surface of the upper wall on one section disposed adjacent to the exposed surface of the bottom wall of said other section,

with the third sidewall of one section disposed adjacent to the third sidewall of said other section and said cleats formed on said third sidewalls in overlapping engagement with each other to prevent relative perpendicular movement of the superimposed sections,

with the free edge of the first sidewall of one section disposed in the peripheral groove of said other section to prevent relative sidewise movement of the superimposed sections and with the end wall of one section closing the open end of the hollow chamber of said other section; I

and fastener means formed on both sections for preventing relative endwise movement of said superimposed sections. 

1. A collapsible game board comprising two sections, each section having a bottom wall, an upper surface, a lower surface and an open end adapted to be abutted against the corresponding open end of the other section to define a playing area, said playing area having an upper surface along one side thereof and a lower surface along the other side thereof, said upper and lower surfaces traversing each of said sections, one of said sections being adapted when inverted to be superimposed on said other section, with the upper surfaces of said superimposed sections disposed side by side and with the upper surface of one section positioned adjacent to the lower surface of the mating section, and means for selectively preventing separation of the two sections from their superimposed position.
 2. A game board as claimed in claim 1 wherein said said means for preventing separation of the two superimposed sections includes means for preventing sidewise and perpendicular movement of the sections relative to each other.
 3. A game board as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for preventing separation of the two superimposed sections includes means for restraining said sections against endwise relative movement.
 4. A game board as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said sections includes an end wall rising from the peripheral portion of said bottom wall opposite said open end, and said upper surface of said playing area of each section defines a hollow chamber having an open end, said open end of the chamber of each section being closed by the end wall of the other section when the two sections are in their superimposed position.
 5. A game board as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said playing area terminates about midway between the side edges of said bottom wall in an interior sidewall.
 6. A game board as claimed in claim 5 including a cleat formed on said interior sidewall of each section, said cleats being in overlapping engagement when said sections are superimposed, to prevent relative perpendicular separation of the two sections.
 7. A game board as claimed in claim 5 including a reentrant flange formed on the interior sidewall of each section, said reentrant flanges engaging each other when said sections are superimposed, to prevent relative lateral and perpendicular movement of the two sections.
 8. A game board as claimed in claim 1 wherein each section includes a generally peripherAl groove formed along one side of said bottom wall and a generally peripheral sidewall rising from the other side of said bottom wall, the free edge of said sidewall of each section adapted to engage the groove in the bottom wall of the mating section when said sections are superimposed to prevent sidewise relative movement of the two sections.
 9. A game board as claimed in claim 1 including fastener means on each section to maintain the open ends of said sections in abutting relationship to each other and to restrain said sections against endwise relative movement when said sections are superimposed.
 10. A game board as claimed in claim 1 including means on the outer surface of said bottom walls detachably receiving legs adapted to support said game board when the open ends of said sections are abutted against each other.
 11. A collapsible game board comprising two sections, each section having a bottom wall, a first sidewall rising from the peripheral portion of said bottom wall, a peripheral groove formed along the side of said bottom wall opposite said first sidewall, a second sidewall rising from said bottom wall adjacent to and inwardly of said groove, a third sidewall rising from said bottom wall and disposed about midway between the sides of said bottom wall, an upper wall supported on said second and third sidewalls in a plane generally parallel to said bottom wall, an end wall rising from a peripheral portion of said bottom wall and extending between said first and second sidewalls, a hollow chamber defined by said upper wall, said second and third sidewalls, a portion of said bottom wall and a portion of said end wall, and a cleat formed on the surface of said third sidewall; the end of one of said sections opposite said end wall adapted to be abutted against the corresponding end of the other section to define a playing area having a continuous upper surface formed by the upper walls of each section and a continuous lower surface formed by the exposed portion of said bottom walls of each section; one of said sections when inverted being adapted to be superimposed on said other section with the surface of the upper wall on one section disposed adjacent to the exposed surface of the bottom wall of said other section, with the third sidewall of one section disposed adjacent to the third sidewall of said other section and said cleats formed on said third sidewalls in overlapping engagement with each other to prevent relative perpendicular movement of the superimposed sections, with the free edge of the first sidewall of one section disposed in the peripheral groove of said other section to prevent relative sidewise movement of the superimposed sections and with the end wall of one section closing the open end of the hollow chamber of said other section; and fastener means formed on both sections for preventing relative endwise movement of said superimposed sections. 